The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-06-02
Can Mr.. George Persuade the
Catholics to Give Up Their
church,
From the New York Herald.

SnurCu
From the New York Herald
1t is true, as reported elsewhere in the
Herald, that Archbishop Corrigan has in
his possession letter of ominous import
TO DR.. McGlynn.
Within forty days after its receipt the
priest is ordered to present himself at
Rome, the penalty for disobedience being
accommodation.
There can no longer be any DOUBT that
the pope has taken the matter up with
determination to push it at once to con-
clusion.
Why not face the fact, gentlemenS 1t
must be done sooner or later, and in such
a case the sooner the better. That fact is
that Henry George has organized body
of earnest and stalwart men, mostly
Catholics, whose first duty is to become
Protestants-that is, to protest against
and, if necessary, to defy the authority OF
the head of their church. In nutshell,
that Is the whole case as it stands to-day.
1t must be admitted, therefore, that the
situation is not only very cdd but exceed
ingly interesting.
Now, then, lot US look at this matter in
cool blood. Mr.. George proposes so
radical change in the ownership of land
that it ultimates in practical confiscation
by the state or the federal government.
He would perhaps hesitate to use this
word because it has an unattractive ap-
pearance, but that is the logical issue of
his plan.
Well, in order to effect the revolution
which he proposes, it will be necessary to
alter the constitution of the United States,
which specially guards the rights of pri-
vate property. That is a large work to
undertake, and all the more difficult be-
cause Americans reverence that instru
ment as the product of the wisest and
most patriotic men this country has ever
produced. The statesmen who gave us
our institutions do not agree with Mr..
George in this matter, and their opinions
are certainly worthy of some considera-
| ton.
Neither can there be any doubt that the
attitude of the pope toward this theory of
land ownership is one of unqualified dis
approval This fact must not be ignored
by the members of the Catholic church who
have been fascinated by the eloquence of
the apostle of revolution or entapgled by
the plausibility of his arguments. There is
little use, gentlemen, in dallying with the
statement, so often heard, that the land
question is not understood in Rome. 1t is
no more than fair to presume that the
pope does know what he is talking about.
At any rate, he is clearly of the opinion
that he understands both the economic
basis and the political tendency of the
doctrines he is at so much pains to de-
nounce. He has carefully sought the in
formation required; has caused the books
of Mr.. George to be examined by COM
petent scholars, and as the result has is
sued letter addressed to every Catholic,
through the archbishop of New York,
which embodies his convictions and fore
casts his policy. Nothing could be palmer
than these words:-"It is approved by us
that you have labored to crush ere they
sprang up the vicious seeds of doctrines
scattered under pretense of helping the
Masses" And he adds, with clearness
of statement not often found in diplomatic
documents: "We will never permit any
injury to your good name and dignity,
much less to the authority of this apos-
tolic see, and we will not fail to make
known to you, through the sacred congre-
CATION of the propaganda, timely meas
uT6S IOE uuo COEEoCUlOu VI blO IOboliiOubs
Now then, gentlemen, that is the posi-
ton of affairs. You may depend upon it
that a crisis is not far off. Do you not
see that we are right in saying that Mr..
George is leading you out of the Catholic
church, and, with all the arguments at his
command, is persuading you to rebel
against the authority of the vatican and
become ProtestantsY If you are ready
| for that, why, of course, we have nothing
to say. If you have concluded not to re-
ceive your doctrines from the head of the
church, all right. That is none of our
business. You are the judges of what is
best to be done, and on must follow your
own convictions.
Our only duty is to put the situation
plainly before you Then our work is
done. Your brains are your own; you
have plenty of them to meet the emergen-
cy, and this country is free country,
which guarantees to every man the right
of private judgment.
But you must admit that the present
| juncture is very remarkable one. Every
body is curious, and even solicitous. The
whole conservative priesthood of your
church, together with the laymen, millions
of them, who still retain their loyalty to
Rome, are looking on and anxiously await
| ing the result. The great sect of Protest
ants are naturally somewhat excited, and
are wondering whether you will separate
yourselves from the church and deny the
authority of any one on earth to furnish
you with your body of belief. And of
course the socialists or anarchists, who
repudiate all religious systems, and who,
it must be confessed, have been somewhat
encouraged by the more recent utferances
of DR.. McGlynn, are hoping that you will
break with Rome and drop into their fold.
But there is no hurry. 1t is serious
step which you contemplate, and one
which demands long and sober thought.
You are Americans, and you will do as you
please, every man of you, and you have
the right to do 80.
The crisis is very, very interesting
one. And the oldest part of it all is that
a Protestant is leading an army of Catho-
lies in a rebellion against Rome.
Humbug.